Arts & Entertainment

John Coltraine's Son, Jazz Saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, to Return to Pleasanton

Coltrane last appeared in Pleasanton in February 2008.

By Barbara Lewis

The Firehouse Arts Center will host the return to Pleasanton of acclaimed jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer Ravi Coltrane and his quartet. 

He will perform at 8 p.m., Feb. 10 at the center, located at 4444 Railroad Avenue in downtown Pleasanton.

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Coltrane, who last appeared in Pleasanton in February 2008, has performed as a sideman with many jazz luminaries, recorded noteworthy albums for himself and others, overseen important jazz reissues, and founded the prominent independent record label, RKM

He frequently tours internationally with the Ravi Coltrane Quartet.

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Named for Indian sitar artist Ravi Shankar, Coltrane  is the son of music legends John and Alice Coltrane.

He says, “My mother played piano and organ at home every day and she took us to recording sessions. She played my father’s LPs and recordings of classical music.” 

According to Coltrane, he listened to a wide variety of music growing up, including Rhythm and Blues, soul, pop tunes of the day, and film scores.

“Jazz was something I appreciated, but I had to reach my late teens and go through profound family changes before the music became the dominant force in my life.”

In 2005, Coltrane’s fourth album, “IN FLUX”, was voted the #3 top album in The New York Times' prestigious 2005 year-end list. 

Of “IN FLUX”, Ben Ratliff wrote in the New York Times: "Mr. Coltrane avoids tired song structures and doesn't want to bore you. He's fascinated on one hand by miniatures and on the other by the idea of longer songs that sound like collective improvisation from start to finish. It's a record that you can point to and say: This is what jazz sounds like now." 

That album was followed by “BLENDING TIMES” in 2009, which is said to have solidified Coltrane’s standing as one of today’s most innovative jazz artists and improvisers.

“I want to be involved with music that is truly honest – that’s not trying to follow trends or fit into someone’s idea about what jazz ‘is,’” Coltrane says.

“To me, I’m only trying to be a musician, and we honor the legacies of those who have gone before by just playing and doing our own thing. If our generation simply copycats the greats of the past, that’s not real. It’s important to be authentic and make music that means something now. It’s exciting to be on the journey.”

Adult tickets are $20, $25 and $30.  Student tickets are $12.  They may be purchased online at www.firehousearts.org up to three hours prior to the performance, by phone at (925) 931-4848, or in person at the Firehouse Arts Center Box Office. 

Box Office hours are Wednesday-Friday, noon-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and for two hours prior to the performance. 

The entrance to free parking is on Spring Street near First Street. 


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